The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-09

frivolous aud pretentious, dltfefinl
mat, rally from the brilliant asse m
blies that had graced the capital city
in earlier days. 0ae OF the principa
events of that winter was . very ex
elusive ball given by Mrs. Lincoln a
the White House. Such an innova
ton upon established customs sub
jectad her to severe criticism from
every quarter Nevertheless, the bal
was given, and passed off with great
eclat. Mrs. Lincoln was congratulated
upon the spirit of independence which
sh . insugurated In the Executive Man
sion, and which should have found
q place there long btfsre. She had
the courage to emancipate herself
from the limited routine Of action and
habit prescribed for our Presidents
ard their wives by the populsce, who
relisiously believed that the whole es.
tsblirhment, including the body and
soul Of the President, belonged to
| them.
The invitations wee 10 be limited
to the Cabinet. the Senate, the Diplo.
matte Corps end the m 3jor generals
OF the army, and Big, Gen Hancock
and hin family w5re the cnly Cxcep-
tions. This was not Understood by
ourselves or our friends uutil explain.
ed to me by Mrs, Lincoln, who ex-
pressed her qualification at the opro;-
tun!ty which enabled her to return
the hospitality ard attention that her
sister and other members Of her fAmi-
ly had received from my mother upon
different occasions when they were
Waiting 81. Louis. Mr.. Lincoln rather
demurred at fi'st, but was overrued
by his wife, and the invitation was ex.
tended. This simple AID unex pc cted
recognition by Mis- Lincoln quite woa
upoa me. In all the eorrowa and re-
verses which came to her in after
years, she had my eatire sympathy,
and have always believed that her
subsequent psculiarrities were ccca-
stoned by a mind weakened from pro.
longed anxiety and strain.
Mr.. Lincolh'e careworn face / recall
today as wildly as then. AT one of
his levees in passing him l remarkt d
that it would be owing great con-
sideration II l were to refuse his prof.
fered band, as he must be weary
enough of hsudshakipg. To this he
replied in never to-be forgotten tone:
"Ah, II this were all l was called
upon to do how willingly II would be
dune iof all times; but to say NO to
the poor unfortunates who come to
me in the belief that | am all power
ful to pronounce that little word OF
only three letters, and who do not and
will not understand that cannot act
always as / wish but have others to
consult, this keeps me always uu-
happy"
Mr.. Stanton frequently said 10 me
"Mr. Lincoln has the biggeit heart of
any man in the world, a,,d for that
reason we have to watch ., " the
Southern women with their winning
ways would get his permission to
carry with them enough contrabsnd
goods to supply the Southern army"
The period between tho two visits
to Washington just quoted was spent
by the Hancock family Y in | rs Angeles,
Gal. Many were the adventures had
with the Iadians, and on one cc1sion
some chiefs who we're present at the
house and heard M 8. Hancock play
ing on the piar O. left in high dudeeon
because the "Bg Captain" would not
make trade with them, exchanging
his "squaw and music table" for
ponies and robes.
La telling of their California life,
Mrs Hancock gives thiI account OF
her husbands fret speech:
All The while the secession move.
10 ~ was in progress and this deter
t-rmined the union element to arrange
plan for such display that would
pvt rave the oppoai.on. A squadron
of United States cavalry was ordered
from Foot fehone, 100 miles away.
which, added to the gathering from all
direc ions OF uuion men, made quite
respectable if not very formidable pro-
ceseion. 1t was at this time, the An
OF July, 1890, that Mr.. Hancock made
his maiden speech, strong and i'm
pressivs If not eloquent appeal to his
CoHnrymen not to separate themselves
from the common me nories a nd inter.
ests whicl. had so loug bound them to.
gelher. Whether this Fourth OF July
celebration bad any effect upon the
Disturbances / cannot say, but it was
generally considered to have quieted
for time the rising spirit Ct diSsAtis-
faction which was assuming an i'm.
portsnce manifestly not illusory.
!, The following experience Mrs Han
cock hal with Mr.. Charles A. Dana
while in Washington will be read with
interest.
l was appealed to by lady to assist
her in procuring pass to go 10 Peters
burg, Va , to see her mother, SO years
OF age, who was dying fT the want Of
the necessaries of life. referred her
to Mr. Montgomery Blair, who was
then Postmaster General in Mr.. Lin
coins Cabinet, and whom she we'll
knew. He obtained from the Presi-
dent the desired pass and also psrmis-
sion to take with her the articles on
her list which were then considered |
contIaband Of war. On the following
morning at an early hour che
started on her journey Tejoic-
ing at her good fortune In
Obtaining the much needed pass 30
easily and anticipating the Joy that
her coming would bring to her
mother and other dear ones who
we're impatiehtly awaiting her. Ia
stead OF these bright hopes bUing re.
slizsd, che was turned back in Alex
andris and her pass torn up and
thrown into the waste ba alket in her
presence. No reason wss assigned for
this act. OF course TO me the case
seemed hopeless; how cou 1t be 9th
erWlse when the consent Of the
President Of the United ateg had
been so ANONYMOUSLY diSregarded
Still, the exigency OF the.ca5s demand
ed another effort, 80 I volunteered to
take advantage Of an oft-repeated in
vltation OF Mr.. Stanton'eto call upon
him without hesitation for favor or as.
sistsuce should / ever desire or need
it. la not the most enviable frame Of
mind did | start ont upon this mission
oi mercy, knowing well the ind xibili-
y OF th5 nature had 10 work upon.
found that hr. Stanton
vas at home III, and my business had
o be transacted with the Assistant
10 NmNa